ATHLETICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 August 1921, Page 3

ATHLETICS.

. ENCOURAGEMENT OF AMATEURS. CLUB IN NEW PLYMOUTH. •’ j , - A well attended meeting was held at the : Soldiers’ Club, New Plymouth, last night to consider the proposal to form a New Plymouth Amateur Athletic Club. Mr. W. H. Moyes, who was elected chairman of the meeting, stated that those interested in athletics had felt for a long time that an Amateur Athletic Club was needed in New Plymouth. With the exception of swimming, football and cricket, the younger men had no opportunity for indulging in athleticsThese games, with tennis, golf and bowls, certainly gave opportunities for exercise, but a revival of amateur athletic meetings would give boys leaving school the opportunity of keeping fit and of taking a pride in keeping fit. Some considered that athletics were not so popular now as in days gone by, owing perhaps to betting and professionalism having become associated with them. Personally, he was convinced that tlie ’ public was as keen to-day as it was twenty years ago in regard to any clean and healtly sport. If the club were formed, there was no dout>t it would receive warm support from the public, and from the young cnen of the town there would be no dearth of competitors. There was no reason why the club should not produce athletes as famous as those of earlier days. Mr. L. P. Webster said that those who, like himself, tad shared iu athletics, felt they were not doing their duty by tlie younger generation unless they gave the boys to-day the same opportunity of joining in wholesome sport as they had had. Mr. Willis said the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association had urged very strongly that an association should be formed in New Plymouth. A great many of the leading citizens . bad promised support, and he was sure the meeting would show that amateur athletics in New Plymouth were by no moans dead. I Apologies for non-attendance were received from the Mayor, Dr. Fookes, Dr. Walker, Messrs. Etherington, C. H. Burgess, T. C. List, A. L. Moore, Stainton, Cameron, E. Gilmour, C. H. Croker, and S. Teed, who would all support a club if it were formed. Mr. Stevenson said that much of the success of the Wellington Association was due to the competitions for boys under 16, and the meeting agreed that such events were of the utmost importance. After further discussion it was resolved that an Amateur Athletic Association be formed in New Plymouth.. The following officers were elected: —Patron, His Worship tho Mayor; president, Mr. C. 11. Burgess; vice-presidents, Messrs. C. H. Weston, T. C. List, Gen. Grey, L. A. Nolan, Col. Meldrum, Dr. Fookes, Messrs. W. H. Moyes, J. McLeod. F. Willis, E. B. Davies, S. Teed, E. Hine, S. G. Smith, M.P., and Dr. Milroy'; committee, Messrs. E. Whittle, L. P. Webster, Papps, A. E. Humphries, A. L. Moore, V. Whyte, E. Jackson. A. W. Diprose, M. D. Stagpole, D. Evans, A. R. Rider, R. L. McIlroy; secretary and treasurer, Lt. Andrew, V.C. The membership fee was fixed at ss.

Mr. Webster said that he would like it to be understood that those young athletes who had gone in for professional sports while there was no amateur club in New Plymouth would be reinstated as amateurs upon application, as 'the object of the club was not to block athletes in any way, but to encourage amateur sport.